November 26, 2017, the NY Times asks “He Raised Drug Prices at Eli Lilly. Can He Lower Them for the U.S.?… Alex M. Azar II, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, has expressed concern about the soaring cost of prescription drugs for many consumers. This week, Mr. Azar, a former pharmaceutical executive, is expected to face tough questions at a Senate confirmation hearing over why his own company raised prices.”
RAPS Regulatory Focus earlier reported “President Donald Trump on Monday morning announced via Twitter his intention to nominate Alex Azar, former president at Eli Lilly and deputy HHS secretary under President George W. Bush, to be the next HHS secretary. If confirmed by the Senate, Azar would step into a cabinet position left vacant after Tom Price resigned following numerous questions related to his use of private jets and their mounting cost to the US taxpayer.”
At about the same time Rueters reported that “President Donald Trump on Monday said he is nominating former pharmaceutical executive and industry lobbyist Alex Azar to serve as U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, saying Azar would push to lower the price of medicines. Republicans as well as the lead lobby groups for drugmakers and health insurers welcomed Azar as an experienced hand who could help overhaul the world’s most costly healthcare system. But several Democratic lawmakers questioned whether he would tackle changes that cut into pharmaceutical profits.”
Click here for the full story from the NY Times, here for RAPS, and here for the Reuters story.
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